class-15-still-1-sharon-duncan-brewster-sophia-hall — Dean Leon Anderson’s ‘Class 15’

Playing on Thursday evening at the Urbanworld Film Festival in NYC, and tonight in the United Kingdom’s Encounters Film Festival, is filmmaker Dean Leon Anderson’s latest short film “Class 15.”

The film centers on the drama that erupts when what is supposed to be cordial parent-teacher conference descends into chaos when a teacher finally meets the mother of his difficult student. Starring actress Sharon Duncan-Brewster, whom United States audience may best recognize from the British television series “Top Boy,” as well as the prison drama “Bad Girls,” Anderson shares the he wrote the film with Duncan-Brewster in mind. And it shows.

The film is very contained, which keeps the rising drama and tension to truly uncomfortable levels. Duncan-Brewster is allowed to blossom in the agitated states she’s known best for, but also is able to grow beyond that in a short time, allowing space for her fellow stars to shine as well.

In some ways, “Class 15” is reminiscent of another school drama on the festival circuit, Nikyatu Jusu and Yvonne Shirley’s “Flowers,” with racial and sexually tinged anxiety that can be difficult for some to watch, which is a good thing. They also are comparable in that both films are intended for full film versions. Coincidentally, both are playing in the same block at Urbanworld.

filmmaker Dean Leon Anderson — Filmmaker Dean Leon Anderson

Anderson was born and raised in London, England and graduated from the University of Greenwich. He has directed a series of short films, which have screened internationally among the film festival circuit. Anderson developed his short screenplay “Class 15” after being selected to take part in the 2015 B3 Media TalentLab program; the film was executive produced by Marc Boothe and supported by Creative Skillset. He is currently working on a slate of original feature film projects, including a feature length screenplay for “Class 15.” Shadow and Act previously previewed his short film “Jasper” for last year’s Pan African Film Festival.

Check out the film’s trailer below and watch for it at Urbanworld, Encounters, and other film festivals in the coming months. Urbanworld will be held in New York City from September 21 – September 25, 2016, with AMC Empire 42^nd Street hosting its featured film screenings.

You can find updates about “Class 15” on their Facebook page.

Dean Leon Anderson

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